No relief in sight from heat

The scorching, late-spring heat is expected to break high-temperature records. The record high for May 31 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport is 97, and the WRAL WeatherCenter is forecasting a high of 98 in Raleigh.

On Sunday, the high temperature of 94 tied the record for the date. The normal high temperature for this time of year is 82 degrees.

WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel said there is no end in sight to the 90-plus-degree high temperatures, though there will be some slight cooling on Thursday and Friday with the passage of a weak cold front. Temperatures will ramp up again Saturday and Sunday.

"It's a hot pattern that shows no sign of breaking down substantially any time soon," Fishel said. "A heat hostage crisis, if you will."

Combined with the humidity, heat indices climbed above 100 degrees in much of central North Carolina on Tuesday. 

Members of sensitive groups, such as children and the elderly, may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.

The state chapter of Safe Kids Worldwide is reminding parents to never leave children alone in a hot car. High temperatures inside cars nationwide claim the lives of 35 to 40 children each year.

The organization says that temperatures inside a car can rise by 19 degrees in just 10 minutes. 

"People think if you crack you windows it makes a difference, but it doesn't," said Kelly Ransdell of Safe Kids Worldwide. "It's like a convection oven. It just gets hotter and hotter in the vehicle, so we want parents to realize you can't leave them even for a minute."